Mosier sights lack of momentum as fault
By STEVE SHRIVER
Kansan Sports Writer
In contrasting last year's 9-1 Orange Bowl team to this year's squad, All-Big Eight tight end John Mosier feels that momentum has been the big difference.
"We just haven't been able to keep a drive going. Last year we ran over people and we didn't stop until we scored. But we haven't been able to generate that offensive momentum this year. We're making too many crucial mistakes in key situations." Mosler said.
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"Although we're not as good a team this year, I think we're better than our 1-5 record indicates. We're playing real sound football for three-fourths of a game. I don't know what it is, but we haven't found the formula to put together a complete game yet.
"This team is real hungry," Mosier continued, "and I'm sure we'll knock some people off before it's all over. Coach Rodgers has been rough on us in practice. The players and coaches are all real concerned and are woking hard.
"Mistakes have hurt us the most and I think that can be attributed partly to inexperience. A player who hasn't had much game experience will be more apt to fold under pressure. And we haven't had an easy game yet. We've had a lot of crucial plays and it's in this kind of a situation that inexperience stands out," the tight end said.
John Mosier
Senior tight end, 6-4, 220-pounds says 1-5 record not indicative of team potential. He states that even with a tough schedule ahead KU could win them all.
8 KANSAN Oct. 30
1969
Under the Rodger's system, the offensive unit revolves around the quarterback. KU has been hit hard at this key position with injury and inexperience and Mosier feels this is part of the reason for an ineffective offense. At the beginning of the season, starting quarterback Jim Ettinger had very little game experience. In the first game against Texas Tech he injured his ribs and his injuries have compounded.
tackles are big and quick and their defense looks good. John Little is one of the toughest in the conference." Little was an All-Big Eight middle guard for the Cowboys last year.
ENROLL
Mosier has been bothered somewhat by injuries this year. He suffered a hip pointer in mid-season but is back at full strength. He has been slowed by headaches, also, "not so much from hitting but from nervous tension I sometimes get before a big game."
Mosier was a high school All-American as quarterback. Big Eight sophomore of the year in 1967 and an All-Big Eight selection as a junior last year.
The Wichita senior hopes to play professional football after graduation and, at 6 feet 4 inches and 220 pounds, he has the physical dimensions.
Although he played the first five games of the season, he hasn't been at full strength since the rib injury. He didn't play a down against Iowa State because 'of another injury, this time his knee which was bruised near the end of the Nebraska game.
COOL MOVE
"Ettinger was really starting to come around until he got hurt again. Phil Basler has done a very respectable job substituting for him." Mosier said. Basler is a sophomore, and before last week, had only played three downs of college football.
"Three of the four games we have left are at home, and that makes a big difference. The roar of the home-town crowd gives you a big boost. It means a lot to the team when the fans are cheering them on. We've got a tough schedule ahead of us but we've got the potential to win them all," he said.
We'll have to put forth maximum effort to beat Oklahoma State Saturday. They've beaten Houston and Texas Tech. Their
Basler completed 15 of 35 passes for 173 yards and a touchdown against the Cyclones. He threw two costly interceptions in the fourth quarter. "Those interceptions hurt us, but that has to be expected when you've got an experienced ball player in a key position."
"IIf I had to pick a play that beat us, it was that 96-yard punt return. Iowa State did a good job of setting it up, but still we had to have some kind of a mental lapse to allow it. We were down after that play."
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hitter he's played opposite is K-State defensive end Manny Barrera. "Every time we got the chance Barrera and I really went at it. He'tuog to block but I think we've got some tougher ones coming up on our schedule.
"I think the K-State team has shown some signs of what we had last year. But the conference is so well balanced, I can't imagine any team going undefeated."
Mosier said about the hardest
"K-State is having a real good season but they've got a tough schedule left, Mosier added. "They'll be put to a true test Saturday when they play Missouri. When you're on top, it's hard to stay up week after week.
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